The summer vacation passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the new semester to begin.
Lin Mo's sleep disorder hadn't improved much despite seeing numerous doctors over the summer.
Because of this, she missed out on the all-expenses-paid national tour Qinghua University had arranged for her, complete with a handsome senior as her guide.
Zhao Ziling had also invited her on a trip abroad, but she declined that too.
Furious, Zhao Ziling declared they were no longer friends.
But they’d since made up.
Zhao Ziling was the first to cave.
On her third day abroad, she sent Lin Mo a photo of a shirtless Caucasian hiker with a backpack on the beach.
Lin Mo immediately video-called her. "Show me more, and I’ll split the travel costs with you!"
Zhao Ziling burst into laughter. "Easy! I could even get his WeChat for you. But guys like this… I doubt they have a free schedule."
Lin Mo: "…"
Years of friendship meant their bond was unshaken—raunchy jokes included.
On the first day of school, Lin Mo had planned to register alone.
After all, Qinghua University was in Beijing, and she’d be returning home in the evenings.
But her three younger brothers insisted on escorting her.
Shen Yihan, though only fifteen, wore a custom-tailored black suit. Nearly six feet tall, he carried himself with an air of authority.
Eleven-year-old Shen Sizhan was already strikingly handsome, sporting a blue jacket and sunglasses to look cool.
Six-year-old Shen Ji'an, chubby and adorable in overalls, resembled a living doll.
Their presence drew immediate attention as soon as they arrived at the school gate.
Lin Mo, the national college entrance exam top scorer, was already famous—and undeniably gorgeous.
"Wow! Lin Mo, this year’s top scorer! She’s stunning… and her bodyguards aren’t bad either!"
"That’s her second brother, right? Total CEO vibes—the type who’d wire you money and send even more if you refused!"
"The kid in the blue jacket must be her third brother. I saw him in one of her interview videos doing frog jumps in the background!"
"Her youngest brother is so cute! I just want to squish him!"
Upperclassmen from the finance department rushed over. "Lin Mo, right? This way for registration."
Lin Mo nodded, but before she could speak, a commotion erupted nearby.
"Holy crap! Xie Guanyan! The second-highest scorer this year—damn, he’s ridiculously hot!"
"That face belongs in a video game. Dibs on pursuing him first!"
"I’d date him for a day even if it guaranteed me a master’s degree!"
Xie Guanyan?
The name was all too familiar to Lin Mo.
Her academic rival, the one who’d snatched first place from her multiple times in high school.
But she’d beaten him in the finals!
She hadn’t expected him to enroll at Qinghua too. What major was he in?
Almost instinctively, she glanced over.
The young man stood tall and lean, dressed in a crisp white T-shirt, black pants, and spotless white sneakers. He pushed a black suitcase with one hand.
Sunlight silhouetted his long legs as he strode onto campus, straight out of a manga panel.
Their eyes met.
Lin Mo found herself staring at a face of flawless bone structure—pale skin, a sharp nose, and a tea-colored mole at the tip that added a playful flicker.
She frowned.
Wait, since when was Xie Guanyan this good-looking?
She’d known he wasn’t bad, but after two months apart, he’d grown taller, his aura subtly different.
Xie Guanyan’s palms were slick with sweat.
She’s looking at me. She’s really looking at me!
Today, Lin Mo wore a bright yellow dress, vibrant as a sunflower in full bloom.
Locking eyes with her, his breath hitched.
I missed her. So much.
After she started dating Gu Jingchuan, he’d stopped secretly watching her.
He couldn’t bear seeing them together—the jealousy would’ve driven him mad.
Instead, he’d buried himself in work, surviving on old photos of her for comfort.
Now, he could see her every day.
Lin Mo had been staring for several seconds.
Xie Guanyan’s heart hammered so violently he nearly forgot how to walk.
An upperclasswoman approached, reaching for his suitcase. "Xie Guanyan, right? I’m a sophomore in finance. Let me help with your luggage."
He tore his gaze away, voice cool and composed. "No need. Thank you."
Lin Mo turned to her brothers. "Go home now. Be careful on the way."
Their family driver waited outside.
Obedience came naturally to them.
Shen Yihan nodded. "Call me if you need anything. Have the driver run errands for you. Drink water when you’re thirsty, eat when you’re hungry, and avoid guys—"
Lin Mo smiled. "You’re rambling."
Shen Yihan’s lips twitched. Taking Shen Sizhan and Shen Ji'an by the hands, he led them away.
Shen Sizhan couldn’t resist a final warning. "Sis, ignore that guy who doesn’t flush!"
Lin Mo’s scalp prickled. "Get out of here!"
The last thing she needed was anyone finding out about her ex—a one-day relationship that felt like a criminal record.
With her brothers gone, Lin Mo completed her registration.
Xie Guanyan did the same nearby.
They stood so close their shoulders almost brushed.
Lin Mo didn’t look at him.
In high school, her rival had never spoken to her—as if he disliked her.
She wasn’t about to humiliate herself by initiating conversation.
A beauty like her had pride.
After registering, Lin Mo followed an upperclasswoman on a campus tour.
They turned onto a tree-lined path.
Xie Guanyan walked the same way, pushing his suitcase alone.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lin Mo noticed his ears and face were flushed.
Strange.
Had a few eager seniors asking for his contact info flustered him that much?
Was he really that shy?
Just then, the slender, striking boy approached her.
Lin Mo eyed him curiously.
He extended a hand, fingers long and elegant. His voice was low and magnetic.
"Lin Mo, hello. Let’s introduce ourselves properly. I’m Xie Guanyan, also a freshman in finance this year."
